Stop motion for knitting machines



June-28,1938- A J. w, HAMILTON 2,121,964

STOP MOTION FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Nov, 18, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 @if lw'gf. 400 .f v

\ Il I J @e G' V2 l? f l E l .Fyo @u v a C d o l l l G /f/ 7 62 Y #3 I 9 10 9/ a@ 96 7 A TTORNE YS Junez, 1938. 1 W HAMILTON 4 2,121,964. I

STOP MOTION FOR KITTING MACHINES Filed Nov. 18, 1956l 4 sheets-sheet 2 5V. 1mg. i V- 3 100 BY K A TTORNE Xs' 111212811938- J. w. HAMILTON 2,121,964

sToP MOTION Fon KNITTING MAcHINss Filed Nv. 1a, I1936 4 sheets-sheet 3 /NI/ENTOR A TTORNE KS' June 28, 1938. J. w. HAMILTON v 2,121,964

sToP'MoTIoN FOR KNITTING MACHINES l l A Fired Nov. 18, 1936 l 4 sheets-sheet 4 IN VENT OR.

/20 .I `BY 2 Patented June 28,1938

UNITED VsTA'lrEs STOP MOTION .FOR KNITTING MACHINES `loe W. Hamilton, Los Angeles, Calif.,assignor of forty-five percent to Reynolds Jennings Hamilton, Los Angeles, Calif.

'l Application November-18,1936, vsernlNo.111,365

The present'invention relates to a stop motion mechanism particularly adapted for knitting mae chinery, but also designed to operate in connection withany type ofy textile machinery in 5; which the machine `or mechanism is to be stopped orv4 controlled when the yarn or thread being utilized breaks or` is subjected to. excessive tension or becomes tangled.

In my prior applications Ser. No. 43,308, led `October 3, 1935, and Ser. No. 38,044, ledAugust 27, 1935, there are described mechanismsparticularly designed to operate in conjunction with knitting machinery but also capable of being operated in conjunction with other machinery in which the assurance will be had of prompt stop'- page of the knittingl machine when the thread breaks any place between the cone and the needle bed, when a tangle occurs, or when excessive tension arises which.v might tend to cause brealcz-k 20 age if the machine were allowed to continue operation.

In these applications the yarn is caused to pass over one or more pivotally mountedguide devices, which are so constructed as yto release the yarn or thread when excessive tension arises. This 'release of the yarn or thread-will in turn permit the vpivotal device to swing back actuating a stop ymechanism which may be mechanically or electrically controlled.

In said prior applications, the thread may be preferably tensioned by a spring or by a weight before itpasses over the main guide on the pivotal element, ,and-,ifdesired a pivotal guide element may be provided in association'with the drag element. v i

' Itis among the objectsof the present invention to design an improved stop motion mechanism of the type above described, vand which al-1 toy restartvk the machine' after a stoppage, even though the stop motion mechanism be positioned.

at a considerable height. f

Other objects will appear during the course .of the following specification.

According to one preferred construction, a single pivotal guide is provided which takes the form of va substantially ,horizontal linger on the end ofa lever. The lever is normally lightly tenjected to derangement because of the collection electrical 5 claims.y (c1. fis-163) sioned by a weak spring or Weight whichfis overcome by the normal` tension of the yarn when properly running. When so tensioned the other end of the lever will Contact withorpress againstv or tendato` moveclosely toward a yielding member. This member is resiliently biased as to yield` only when there is excessive tension upon the,y yarn or thread to permit the guideA toy lower it` self sufciently to release or discharge the yarn. lConnectedrto the lever and turning therewith is a movable electrical contact which cooperates with axed Contact, said contacts being terminalsofgan electric circuit. y In one instance the movablerelement moves or balancesbetween two xedlelements.- ,In another aspring finger constituting the xed element rides on a cylinder constituting-the movable element. 'The cylinder is provided withV an insert of an insulated material at the position where it is normally ,con-V tacted with the spring linger.` f ,i j

, vAs a result'the circuit will be, opened l,when the.

Athread `or yarn Iis ,running with vthe,proper tenactuated which will vstop the machine.,V74 i The yarn before or while passing over sai pivotal guidewnger preferably passesthrough a xedguide and a tensioningmember, said guide4 being of such a character as ltocausextheyarn to be properly Idirected onto the ypivotal nger during feeding thereof and-so as Ato set'upa sat-f isfactory tension upon thel yarn'l to cause; it to normally press the lever to operating position.

, The yarn may also pass `over another guide onitsway'to the needle bed of the knitting ma? chine which guide, however, should. `cooperate. with the stop motion in case of breakage between the needle bed and the guide with thefresultthat the guide finger will be` released toclose the` stop actuating circuit. v If', desired, it is also possibletoinsertalight signal to indicate which one of thestop motions .Y

has been used to stop the machine in' the'proposed construction-1 V 'Ihe above and other objects will app-earfmoreA clearly from the following detailed description, which when taken in connection'withthe accom#` panying drawings, will illustratepreferred;em-v

bodiments of the inventive idea. 1 y I Figure 1 is a side, view ofan upper' structure of a knittingmachinefwith one of the stopmo,` tion mechanisms in position thereon.-

Figure 2, is a side sectional view ofnthefstop Figure 6 is a fragmentary side sectional view upon the line 6-6 of Figure 7, showing the guide mechanism.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side sectional view upon the line l-'I of Figure 6.'

Figure 8 is a side View of the mechanism upon the line 8 8 of Figure 1 upon a slightly enlarged scale.

Figures 9 to 12 illustrate an alternative embodiment in which Figure 9 is a'longitudinal section through the device upon the line 9-9 of Figure 10; Figure 10 is a top view along the line IIJ-I of Figure 9 with the cover of the device removed; Figure 11 is a fragmentary front view partly in section along the line II--Il of Figure 9 and Figure 12 is a horizontal fragmentary view along the line l2-I2 of Figure 9.

Referring to Figure l, the knitting machine indicated diagrammatically at A, is provided with the usual revolving thread guide structure and reciprocating 'needle bed structure (not specifically shown), the thread guide structure and the reciprocating needles being supplied with yarn from the cones indicated diagrammatically `somewhat out of position'at B. l

The cones, which encircle the structure, are carried by the column C which is part of the rotating structure. f

The column C carriesV a head D which in turn supports the stop motion mechanisms El-to which the present invention is particularly directed.

The yarn F passes from the supply B to the guide G into which it is readily threaded.

From the guide G, theryarn passes over the guide arm H. Y It then finally passes through the guide I to the knitting machine A.

Referring particularly to Figures 2 to 5, the stop motion mechanism is provided with a base plate I0, which may be made of aluminum die casting or some other die casting of light metal which base plate I0 is provided with a protuberance Il which is tapped, as indicated best at l2 in Figure 5. The cover 9 is connected to the threaded post 'I by the nut `8.

The stop motion mechanism is connected to the rod I3 by said tapped recess I2, as best shown in Figure 5.

Extending upwardly from theplate I0 are the side plates I4 which may be made integrally, if desired, with the base plate I0. l

These side plates I4 carry the pivot mounts I5, which are screwed into Atapped openings in the said plates I4, as indicated at vI6'in Figure 5.

The pivot mounts I areprovided with the pivot points Il and they are locked in position by the lock nuts I3.

The pivot points I'I press into and hold the shaft I9, which is provided with a' series of recesses or grooves 2l, 22 and. 23 and a transverse VThese recesses form a series of protuberances 24, 25, 26 and 2'I (see particularly Figure 5).

In the recessw23 is fixed the curved portion 28v of the arm 29 ofthe" movable guide H. The

The other end of the arm 29 is provided with a mushroom-shaped enlargement 34 (see particularly Figure 2) which contacts With the end 35 of the bar 36.

The shaft 3l carries the bar 36 andA it is ,threaded throughout its length and is screwed through the side plates I4. The bar 36 is tapped where it is received upon said shaft 31.

The bar 36 is provided with a dependent element 38 carrying an eye 39 to which is connected the coil spring 40. The coil spring' 49 at its other end `is connected to the eye 4I carried on the flange 42 of the plate 43.

The plate 43 is provided with `an extension 44, as indicated in Figure 4, which ts under a rearwardly extending leg 45 of the side frame member I4. The screw 46 forming a pivot mount for said plate 43. The plate 43 may be adjusted by means of the rod 4l which is threaded through the lugs 48 and 49 (see Figure 2) and is provided with a downwardly bent portion 56 having a coiled end 5I to serve as a handle.

The end 52 of the rod 4I abuts the flange 42 and by turning the handle portion 5--5I it is possible to adjust the tension upon the coil spring 40.

When the arm H is slightly tensioned downwardly as the thread or yarn is fed to the knitting machine, the mushroom portion 34 of the lever 29 will contact with the end 35 of the bar 36, but when the tension is relieved from the guide H the mushroom 34 will separate from the bar 35, the bar 35 being stopped at its other end and prevented from following the lever 29 by the stop screw 53; The screw is threaded through the top plate 54, which plate may be. made of an insulating material and is screwed onto the sideplates I4 by the screws 6l. Y

The set screw 53 is locked inv any Idesired position upon the plate by the lock nuts 55 and 56.

The lever 29 is normally tensioned toward the base plate III by the relatively light spring 51, which as shown in Figure 4, is connected at one end to the opening 58 in the protuberance 24. The other end of the spring 5'I is hooked onto an ear 59 which is adjustably mounted at 6I)` The spring 5l is of relatively light tension as compared with the spring 49 so that the lever 29 may be readily depressed by the normal yarn tension to the point indicated in Figure 2. Beyond this point, however, it will be necessary for substantial tension uponthe yarn to be exerted to move the lever 29 in Contact with the bar 36 against the force of the substantially stronger spring 46.

In the normal balancing position, as indicated in Figure 2, the contact arm 6I at its embossment 62 will contact the insulating piece 63 tted in the axial slot 64.

The upper end of the arm 6I is turned over as indicated at 65 and is screwed as indicated at 66 to the top of the plate 54, where electrical connection may be made.

Electrical connections are usually provided to the base. I6 and the Contact arm 6I so that the stop. motion circuit Will be established when the is. carried on an arm `reaction member 9 I embossment 62 rides beyond the insulating insert 563 either because of the breakage of the yarn F and release of the arm 29, or because of excessive tension on the arm 29 tending to press the mush-k ;room 34 against the bar 36 sufficiently to substantially depress the lever 29.

By the rod 41, the screw mount 60 and the adjusting screw 53, it is possible to adjust the tension on the armv29 and the guide H at its various positions during the operation, so that .during `.normali operation the embossment 62 will ride ,upon the insulation 63 opening the stop motion circuit. l

To assure that the thread be guided on tov the sleeve 3l of the guide H in a proper fashion, the guide element G is provided, which guide element .Gis also so constructed as to enable ready threading of the yarn thereupon by a threading stick, as is necessary in most textile plants.

Referring to Figures 2 and 5 to 7, the guide G 15 depending downwardly from the base plate l0, which arm has an inturned portion 16 carrying the sheet metal cover 11 (see Figure 2) r The arm is also provided with a further inturned extension 18 which carries ,the screw 19 locked in positionbyV the lock nut 88 (see Figure 6). y v

The screw carries the shank 8| of the guide disk 82, which guide disk 82 is provided with a recess 83 and with a bevel face 84.

The disk also carries a guide Wire 86l (best shown inFigure '1) which at one end 81 fits into the `disk 82 and at its other end 88 turns rearwardly until it fits into-the arm 18. l

Pressing against the inside face of thedisk 82 is the cup 89 which is biased by the spring` 90, the tension of which is adjusted by the adjustable carried on said. threaded shaft 19.

The guide wire 86 forms a convenient means by which the yarn F is prevented from moving out of the recess 83, as shown in Figure '1, when the yarn is passing from the bobbin or cone B lto the knitting machine A. v

. The wire 86 also guides the thread F, as shown in the lower'part of Figure 2. .v 1 In operation, the yarn F is first looped over the placed in the recess 83, asbest The normal feeding tension on the yarn across the sleeve 32 will depress the'arm 29 of the guide v H until the mushroom 34 just barely contacts with the end 35 of the bar'36, the normal tension of the yarn being suiicient to overcome the spring 51, but not to overcome'the spring 40.

In this position, theA circuit is vbroken at the insulation 63, as indicated at Figure 4.y .Y When the thread breaks beyond the stop motionA mechanism E, the lever 29 will be released and the embossment 62 will ride off the insulation 63 closing the circuit between the base l0 and the arm 6|, stopping the machine.

The closure of this circuit Will alsorilluminate the lamp |09, as shown in Figure 5, indicating to the worker which stop motion mechanism has been actuated. i

The excessive tension will also give rise to the same effect by depressing the lever 29 against the spring 40 acting on the pivotally mounted abutment bar 3B.

The guide G at all times will function to feed the yarn properly upon the sleeve 3 VThe guide I will receive the yarn F just before itreaches the revolving structure A and itconytrolled in accordance with sistsof a spring pressed disk H9 similar to -disk 89. 'I'his disk is supported on a lever l Il pivot- 'ally mounted on the arm H2. The arm H2 is weighted by the adjustable element H3.r

If the yarn F breaks between thedevice I-and `the machine A, the lever 4l ll would move upon thel right causing `sufficient slack to permitv the guide H to elevate and close the stop circuit. j

It is thus evident that the applicant has pro` vided a convenient, inexpensive and durable mechanism which `will actuate under a wide `variety of conditions to stop the machine.

The device shown and described in the'present ,application will satisfactorily provide fortpractically every abnormal treatment imposed upon the yarn. `For example, it will function very satisfactorily when the tension becomes-too great v necessitating the removal of the yarn 'from the stopping device, and-this is a marked improve-V ment over the prior art, since in most cases in the prior art the stop motion will not operate as long asthe yarn stays in position. This advantage is particularly apparent in case of separation of the 1 thread at any point between the stop-motion de vice and the needle bed.

By the utilization of the combination shown-it is possible to stop the knitting machine in case of separation of the thread at any point between vthe cone and the needle bed. i

The device of the'present application is particularly advantageous inasmuch as it will func-v tion to stop the knitting machine upon tangling of the thread, or when normally lodged knots occur inthe yarn without there occurring at'any Vtime a dropout of Aany considerable degree;v Inv practically all -instances where the device of the present application will effectively stop the machine, the operator of 'the machine will'be vable to tie on a new thread without any damage to 4the cloth. The'device of the present invention may be made of brass or other materials and it maybe-.utilized on flat type or circular knitting machines utilizing 6, 12 or any other number of threads.

lever and so forthmay be varied from machine to machine, and maybe most satisfactorily Vconthe character and strength of the yarn. y

By utilization of a 'combination of nxed and pivoted rguides'as vshown in the present application, it is not only possible to stop the knitting machine when the yarn breaks but generally the machine will be stopped' before the yarn breaks,-

when they tension upon the to upsetl the pivoted guides the yarn. Although the pivoted members are provided. with adjustable springs, it may be desirable in'some instances to make the springs inadjustable; Weights if desired may be used with or addition tosprings. y y e,

't In the embodiment of Figures 9 to 12 is shown in alternative form of stop motion mechanism, in whichl similarlyfunctioning parts v.are designated byy thesarne numerals as Figures l to 8, however,

f I., fln Figure 9,1 the bo'xlike Containern. is'prvyarn becomes such as The specific dimensions of the various springs,

and permit release of of the flanges on said cover 8.

Y The guide lever H' takes the form of a plate I5 which is slotted as indicated at ||6 into which slots Adepend the wire fingers ||1.

The wire fingers ||1 extend downwardly, as indicated at ||8, then upwardly as indicated at I I9, to form a hump and finally downwardly as indicated at |20.

During normal operation, the ngers ||1 and thefplate ||5 are so positioned that there will' be recesses I4 formed between them through which the yarn F' passes.

The lever I6 has a rear extension as indicated at 29' in Figures 9 and 10 and is connected to the block I9 which is `pivotally mounted at I5'.

The extension 28' of the arm H is clamped beneath the adjustable weight |28 which is held in position by means oi the screw |29.

The block I9' during operation is normally balanced between the contacts ||9 and |20, the contact ||9 consisting of a nut which is screwed on to the end of the bolt |23, said bolt being insulated from the casing I0 byV means of the washers |25 and the sleeve |24.

The contact |20 consists of the outstanding end of a closely wound coil spring |2|, the lower end of which is held by the nut I9 under the washer |26 which also is connected to the end of the electrical conduit |21.

Excessive downward movement of the lever ||6 causes its end portion Mito-contact with the end 35' of the block 36 which is pivotally mounted on the shaft 31.

The block is provided with the upstanding element 38 having an eyelet 39 to which is connected the biasing spring 40.

The other end of the spring is connected to the flange 4| ci the plate 43 which is pivotally mounted at 46.

The adjusting screw 41 provided with the handle 50-5 is threaded through the block 49.

The motion of the block 36 is stopped by the adjustable screw or stopr53 provided with the lock nut 56'.

The lock nut 56 holds the upper ends |30 of the wires ||1 rigidly in respect to the block 36'.

In operation, the lever IIB may be readily depressed below the bottom of the return bend portions I8 to permit the yarn` F to be moved `rearwardly until it contacts the downwardly extending portions |20 of the fingers |1.

Atthis time, the lever I6 will be slightly above the dotted line position in Figure 9. Then the lever ||6 is permitted to move upwardly under the action of the spring 40 whereupon the yarn F will be secured between the top oi the hump I|9 and the lever ||6 in the space indicated at I4 of Figure 9.

During the operation, the yarn F' being in the position shown in Figure 9 in solid lines will prevent the lever I I6 from elevating to such a position that the block I9 will contact the nut ||9 and close the circuit through the conduit |21.

We note particularly by reference to Figure l0 that the yarn rests upon the upper surface of the lever 1-1 with which it has three points of Contact at |3T and below the humps ||9 with which it has two points of contact indicated at |32. A

If, however, the yarn F' breaks or falls away from the stop mechanism of Figures 9 to 12, the lever ||6 will elevate depressing the block |9 until it contacts the nut ||9. i Y

When the tension -on the yarn is excessive due 'vided with a cover 9 held in position by means to tangling or because the yarn will not come off the cone or for other reasons, the lever ||6 will be depressed into the dotted line position as indicated at Figure 9.

i At the same time, the portion 34 of the block I9 and 35 of the block 36' will contact which will result in movement of the wire fingers ||1 into the dotted line position, as shown in Figure9.

This movement of the fingers ||1 and particularly their lower portions |20 will result in the yarn being forced off the fingers I6 and released.

This will give an eXtra length of yarn for the machine to operate on during the time the stop motion mechanism is operating lessening the fallouts and defects in the cloth being produced.

During this depression of the lever ||6, the block I9' will be elevated to contact the end |20 of the spring and cause a circuit through the conduit |21 and thereby stopping the mechanism.

In case this contact does not take place sulficiently to assure this energization of the circuit |21, the lever I6 uponbeing released will immediately elevate under the ends of the adjustable weight |28 causing the block I9 to strike the nut IIS and again establish the stopping circuit.

Usually, however, there will be suiicient contact between the block I9 and the element |20 Vto cause such stoppage.

The weight of the block I9 and of the adjusting member |28 are usually so regulated that the block |9 willbang against the nut ||9 when released either due to breakage of yarn F or due to removal of the yarn F' from the lever ||6 as indicated in dotted line position in Figure 9.

This will clear the nut I9 of any lint and will assure that proper contact take place to energize the circuit |21.

The amount of movement of the lingers l |1 and the point at which they are moved forward to dotted line position by `the lever may be controlled by means of the stop screw 53'. The tension on the lever I6 may be regulated by adjustment of the angular position of the weight |28. The tension on the spring 40', resisting movement of the lever I I6 from solid to dotted line position as indicated in` Figure 9, may be adjusted by means of the threaded member 41.

It will be noted in the present construction `that the applicant eliminates the fixed guide G of Figures 1 to 8 with the result that the yarn F only has to be threaded to startthe machine upon a single lever H'.

The operation of `threading the yarn F on the lever H so that it gets beneath the humps I9 is relatively simple and may be readily performed by the operator of the knitting machine.

It will be noted that the weight |28 of the block I9 of Figure?) replaces the spring 51 of Figures 1 to 3; it is also possible, if desired, to replace the other spring 40 by weight means, as indicated in my earlier applications, above referred to.

If Ydesired elements |1-l |8| |9|20 may be fixed instead of movable b-y attaching these elements directly to the box l0' or by casting the elements ||1 to |20 integrally with the box |0'; also .the relative position of the elements I9 and 36 may be reversed with the element 36" being positioned above the element I9', the Contact between the elements I9' and 36 being arranged at the other side of the fulcrum I5 with'the pivots |5' and 31 being laterally disposed as indicated..

It isto loe-understood that many changes and variations may be lmade in the present invention without departing from the essence or sco-pe thereof and it is intended to include all such variations and modifications in the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. Ina stop motion mechanism for knitting machines, a base, means 'carried by said base to engage a rod extending-outwardly from the head of the machine, side Wall members carried by said base, a plurality of shafts carried by said side wall members, a pivoted .guide member connected to one shaft having an outstanding arm, the end of which is designed to receive the yarn being fed to the machine, said shaft also receiving a movable contact element moving with said pivotedv guide, a fixed contact element cooperating with said movable contact. element, a takeup device attached to said second shaft, an adjustable spring resisting movement of said takeup device in one direction, and adjustable stop limiting its movement in the other direction means to guide saidV yarn uponsaid lever, said leverrbeing balanced by normal tension upon said yarn to control said movable contact so that an electrical circuit will not be established in respect to said fixed contact, said take-updevice and said adjustable spring resisting movement of 'said lever in the direction it tends to move under excessive tension of the yarn.

' 2. A stop motion mechanism for knitting machines comprising a movable guide designed to be balanced in a.' predetermined position during normal operation of the machine by the yarn passing thereover, a movable contact element, a ixed contact element, connections between said Vguide and said movable element to cause` said movable element to move into contact with said xed element upon movement of said guide away. from said predetermined balancing position and v a looped lever cooperating with said movable guide provided with an extension t'o limit insertion of the yarn upon said guide, the loop of said lever serving lto hold said yarn upon said guide when said guide is in said rnormal balancing position.

3. A stop motion mechanism for knitting maiixed element upon movement of said guide away from said predetermined balancing position and a looped lever cooperating with said movable guide provided with an extension to limit insertion of the yarn/upon said guide, the loop of said lever serving to hold said yarn upon said guide when said guide is in said normal balancing position, said movable guide being slotted to receive said looped lever. A

4. A stopvmotion mechanism for knitting machines comprising a movable guide designed to be balanced in a predetermined position during normal operation of the machine by the yarn passing thereover, a movable contact element, a fixed contact element, connections vbetween said guide and said movable element to cause said movable element to move into contact with said fixed element upon movement oi said guide away from-said predetermined `balancing position and a looped lever cooperating with said movable guide provided with an extension to limit insertion of the yarn upon said guide, the loop oi said lever serving to hold said yarn upon said guide when said guide is in said normal balancing position, said movable guideconsisting of a substantially horizontal blade provided with parallel slots and said loop lever being provided with two parallel portions fitting in said slots.

5. A stop motion mechanism for knitting machines Vcomprising a movable guide designed to be balanced in a predetermined position during normal operation of the machine by the yarn passing thereover, a movable contact element, a xed contact eleme-nt, connections'between said guide and said movable element to cause said a looped lever'cooperating with said movable guide provided with an extension to limit insertion of the yarn upon said guide, the loop of i said lever' serving to hold said yarn upon said "guide when said guide is in said normal balancing position, said movable guide consisting of a plate having a plurality of slots therein over 

